BBTF would elect seven this year if given the chance. Based on last year’s referendum results every returning player down to Sosa would already be inducted. We should probably re-do the referendum with Smoltz, Sheffield, Giles, Delgado and everyone who was between 75% and 5% last year.

SABR invites all members to present their research findings to their colleagues attending SABR45. Oral presentations are expected to last 20 minutes, followed by a five minute question-and-answer period. Posters will be presented, with the author on-hand to discuss the work, during a poster session of 90 or so minutes, and will probably remain on display throughout the convention.

This election should follow BBWAA rules, not Hall of Merit rules. However, we hope to see only players that each voter feels belong on their ballots. Leaving 1st-year candidates off your ballot is also frowned upon. IOW, we would like to see an absence of some of the silliness that permeates Hall of Fame voting by the writers.

The election will end Monday on Jan 5th 2015 (4 PM EST). Results will be posted a short time later.

Congratulations to the Class of 2015! Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling have been elected to the Hall of Merit.

The election was dominated by pitchers. In addition to the top 3, Mike Mussina was a strong 4th, followed closely by John Smoltz. Gary Sheffield and Sammy Sosa were 6th and 7th, both with enough support that their eventual election looks inevitable.